The era of Voldemort's rule was marked by devastation, creating the darkest decade in the modern history of the British wizarding world.

This darkness stemmed not only from the murder and terror inflicted by Voldemort and his followers upon their opponents, but also from the increasingly fierce retaliation of the Ministry of Magic: Barty Crouch, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the time, exceptionally authorized his Aurors to use the Unforgivable Curses pre-emptively against Death Eaters. Many wizards were even sent directly to Azkaban wizard prison without trial.

In that era, even going out to buy a bottle of soy sauce could lead to misfortune.

The perpetrators could be Death Eaters, Ministry Aurors, or even those "victims" who had turned into beasts in the chaos.

However, just like the farmer who finds a fragrant roast pig in the ashes after a wildfire.

After the shadow of the Dark Lord dissipated, a small number of wizards became the lucky ones struck by the "roast pig" after the catastrophe.

Cornelius Fudge was obviously the most famous of these lucky ones—he, who was originally unqualified to become Minister for Magic, became the only candidate to succeed Millicent after his competitors suffered a series of accidents and black material clearance.

Getting the Minister's position at this time was very lucky.

Voldemort had fallen a few years ago and showed no signs of returning, and nothing special was happening in the magical world.

However, Cornelius Fudge still had his troubles, as he was completely unprepared when he took office.

Initially, he really had no confidence in his abilities and had no plans for the future, relying entirely on Dumbledore's help.

Whether in terms of psychology, ability, or interpersonal relationships, his hasty appointment made him almost synonymous with "incompetence, luck, and weakness" in the eyes of many, and in this situation, the appearance of Dolores Umbridge clearly helped him change a lot—she acted like a pair of white gloves, meticulously handling matters that Cornelius Fudge was inconvenient to deal with, or helping him deter those unruly opponents.

Years passed, and Cornelius Fudge's position as Minister for Magic became increasingly stable.

Unfortunately, no matter how useful a pair of white gloves may be, they eventually have a lifespan.

Cornelius Fudge gradually realized that Umbridge's presence in the Ministry was beginning to threaten his position as Minister—both because of the negative comments about her and her increasingly unrestrained and frightening behavior—he didn't want to become a second Barty Crouch.

Of course, because Umbridge knew too many unspeakable secrets, Fudge couldn't bring himself to discard her once she was no longer useful.

He merely hoped that this woman could stay away from the Ministry, but he didn't want to lose a loyal pair of gloves.

And Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was clearly the most suitable final destination for Umbridge.

Dumbledore was already very old; in twenty years at most, ten years at least, he would eventually leave the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts.

Undoubtedly, Cornelius Fudge's previous "lucky" ascension to the position of Minister for Magic had given him a lot of inspiration. This might be the opportunity that previous Ministers had dreamed of to control Hogwarts, and this was Fudge's original promise to Umbridge:

"If Dumbledore retires, you will receive the full support of the Ministry of Magic in the next Headmaster election."

However, he now intended to temporarily modify some of the plan's details.

Even though Umbridge had been vigorously promoting pure-blood theory and the idea of wizarding supremacy, and claiming that her "deceased" father was a prominent figure in the Wizengamot during his lifetime, Cornelius Fudge was well aware of her true family background: Umbridge's father was a low-level employee in the Magical Maintenance Department, and her mother was a Muggle. In other words, she was not a pure-blood wizard with a noble lineage at all.

When faced with gentlemen and ladies who truly came from pure-blood wizarding families, she would inevitably reveal her own coarseness and shallowness.

Cornelius Fudge glanced at Lucius Malfoy, and the cute little girl sitting on the stool, looking around, silently sentenced Umbridge's elimination in his heart—the future of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was best left to those who were more suitable for magic.

As for Umbridge's backlash…

Cornelius Fudge subconsciously touched the magic contract he had just obtained in his pocket.

Perhaps that unsuccessful secret trial and secret arrest a few months ago was a good exercise?

Meanwhile, Umbridge, who had barely finished signing the magical agreement, didn't know that she had already become a pawn of the Ministry of Magic.

"So, is that the end of it? Dumbledore. It seems that Hogwarts still has many secrets that we don't understand. I admit that my previous methods and rhetoric were somewhat inappropriate, but I believe my starting point was for the safety of the children. Now, we should discuss something else—"

"Excuse me, just a moment, it should be 'we'—"

Just then, Lucius Malfoy coughed lightly and elegantly glanced around the crowd.

"The Hogwarts Board of Governors, Minister, Director Bones, Professor Dumbledore, but not you... Professor Umbridge."

"You—"

"Oh, Ms. Umbridge, we have already signed a magical agreement because of you and wasted a lot of time. Even if your curiosity is strong, can't you wait until everything is over and ask Professor Dumbledore or the Minister separately? We need to hurry up and discuss subsequent school management methods and some sensitive social issues with the Headmaster. If possible, could you..."

Lucius Malfoy said in a calm tone, with a template-like aristocratic smile on his face, and gestured towards the door with his palm.

Umbridge glared at Malfoy fiercely, trembling with anger.

"Watch your tone, do you think the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic is not qualified to attend the meeting, hmm, Malfoy?"

"Former-Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, oh, you'll have to learn to accept the change in status sooner or later, Professor Umbridge," Lucius Malfoy shook his head, his cold gray eyes flashing with strange light, "You know, we're still cleaning up the, uh, mess you left behind."

As a Death Eater who once served Voldemort at close range, Lucius Malfoy prided himself on his wisdom in observing words and expressions.

Clearly, Umbridge would most likely become a pawn of the Ministry of Magic, and Hogwarts would probably not accept this High Inquisitor either.

And in this delicate atmosphere, he, who took the initiative to say what the big figures on both sides wanted to express, would simultaneously gain twice the favor—at least from the upturned corner of that "Demon King's Castle Princess's" mouth, he had clearly taken the first step correctly, and that single point of favor alone was worth the guaranteed return.

He ignored the stupid woman trembling with anger there, turned around, and looked at the princess sitting in the chair.

"Oh, Miss Kaslana," Malfoy said, thought for a moment, and squatted down slightly to look the girl in the eye, appearing less arrogant, "We have some things to discuss with Professor Dumbledore, some boring and tedious matters for adults. The Hogwarts feast has already begun, as Hogwarts' first Head Chef, you certainly want to go to the Great Hall to enjoy the food with your friends, right? Don't worry, we will strictly guard the secret of your origins."

"...Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. Uh, by the way, I'll have the kitchen send some food over later—"

Ellina looked at Lucius Malfoy squatting not far away, and couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

It has to be admitted that as the only wizarding family in the original book that has gone through decades of wizarding wars with almost no losses, the Malfoy family can be said to have reached the pinnacle in the art of serving the Dark Lord and standing on the right side. She was even considering whether to let Draco develop his father.

Of course, that would probably be a long time later.

And from the current situation, Lucius Malfoy is more effective in a neutral state.

Ellina thought while propping herself up with her hands, jumping off the chair, and walking out of the room without any nostalgia.

Outside the door in the hallway, as before, Hermione and Hannah and Luna, who had come after hearing the news, were standing there waiting for her to come out.

"Let's go, let's go to the Great Hall for dinner... Let's sleep together in the Hufflepuff dormitory tonight—"

Ellina looked at her little wings and smiled, reaching out her hand.

Behind her, Umbridge walked out with a gloomy face, and the door closed heavily behind her.

As a senior official of the Ministry of Magic, she of course understood the reason for Lucius Malfoy's initial arrogance and subsequent courtesy—that damned fence-sitter!

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Yay!